Effect or affect: do you know the difference?

Struggling to remember the difference between EFFECT and AFFECT? My simple tips have got you covered

EFFECT and AFFECT are easy to confuse and often spelled wrong as a result.

The fact that the two words sound the same – they’re homophones – means people commonly mix them up.

Here are my simple tips to remember the difference between EFFECT and AFFECT.

How to use AFFECT and EFFECT in a sentence

AFFECT is a verb that means alter or influence. Think A for alter.

“The rain AFFECTS my hair.”

EFFECT is most commonly a noun meaning the result of something. Think E for end result.

“The EFFECT of the rain is wet hair.”

Advanced lesson

That cheeky little ‘most commonly’ above? About that.

EFFECT can also, rarely be used as a verb, to mean ‘bring something about’.

“The voting was rigged to EFFECT the victory.”

EFFECT as a verb is rarely written outside of formal English, so you’re fairly safe to assume you won’t need this spelling.

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